Hello,
Website----www.517prct.org
Mail Call---Ben517@aol.com
_________________________________________________
Subj: A man with a memory
Date: 8/23/2003 1:19:49 PM Eastern Daylight Time
From: Bigdegner
To: Ben517, bobx517@juno.com
Hi Ben and Bob
Last week I got a call from Jack Collins (Hq 2nd Bn) asking me where I was 59 years ago at the moment he made the phone call. Needless to say I questioned his sanity as I have a hard time remembering what I did last week.
He worked out the math and informed me that we were in the air parachuting into France at that very moment.
He promised that he would be in Kissimmee next January and would drag Sam Povich with him. I believe the following will also be there, Chris Lindner, Hunter McDonald, June Huffman and Dorothy Mackinzie. Christie I believe you will have a great turnout for your Mini Reunion in Florida.
See y'all in Kissimmee,
Darrell Egner
____________________________________________________________
Subj: Recollections of WWII
Date: 8/23/2003 3:35:00 PM Eastern Daylight Time
From: Bigdegner
Hi Ben:
Thanks for your mail today. Thanks to a rainy day I am getting a lot of Computer time in.
Thanks for posting my letter to "Recollections." Boy, for a guy that never knew where the hell he was your putting me in big company with the memory group such as Dick Seitz, Tom Cross, Howard Hensleigh and Gene Beissey.
Sure hope I can live up to this honor.
Best regards,
Darrell Egner
Hq 2nd Bn.
_______________________________________________________________
Subj: Re: MAIL CALL NO 530 517TH PRCT
Date: 8/24/2003 1:43:06 PM Eastern Daylight Time
From: BlantonTems
hello ben i just wanted to say thank-you so very much for the morning reports you sent me. Im still hoping to hear from someone who remembers my dad ' willard burke blanton ' co.b sgt.at time of discharge,well thanks again im forever in your debt Neil p. Blanton
____________________________________________________________
Subj: Unit Networking
Date: 8/24/2003 8:03:11 PM Eastern Daylight Time
From: hhensleigh@earthlink.net
Dear Ben: Special thanks to Darrell Egner of Hq. 2nd and his "little helper" for contacting the 66 members of that company who aren’t on the net. That is what we planned to happen when we set up the framework for unit networking at OKC. It should make the Association more meaningful to members and help Bob Christie with Thunderbolt content. Our moto is–Every soldier has a story; our job is to tell it. Such a network should bring out the stories. Bob will publish them. We trust that others will follow your example. Howard Hensleigh
______________________________________________________________
Subj: Ted Lobar
Date: 8/24/2003 8:20:33 PM Eastern Daylight Time
From: RCooper663
Ben:
I Have located Ted Lobars Sister she would like to be put on the Mail Call list. Please
Bob Cooper " D CO "
Barbra & Ken Robertson
3602 Mill Creek Road
Quincy Il 62301
bkrobe@adam.net
Bob
____________________________________________________________
_Subj: August 15
Date: 8/24/2003 8:55:13 PM Eastern Daylight Time
From: hhensleigh@earthlink.net
Dear Ben: First Jan’s and my thanks to Dorothy Mackenzie for her kind words regarding Jan’s and my 55th anniversary. For many years it coincided with hers and Jim’s--on that other anniversary, August 15. Jim was a big man literally and figuratively in the Second Battalion and universally respected throughout the Combat Team. Secondly, we were delighted to see a large number of widows of former members at the OKC reunion. One made the trip from Canada. We express our appreciation for your continued interest and support. During the next two years we will outline the procedure for the organization of the spouses, widows and descendants of members. Manny have an interest in keeping alive the memory of the Combat Team and its accomplishments. We will ask for your assistance with that project. God bless, Howard Hensleigh
_________________________________________________________
Subj: Thunderbolt
Date: 8/25/2003 2:41:19 PM Eastern Daylight Time
From: hhensleigh@earthlink.net
Dear Ben:Here is a note to Lynda Estrella, Elbert Duran’s granddaughter. Bob Christie had a few ideas in one of the Mail Calls of what troopers could write about their service in the 517th CT. We want to hear from you Lynda about your grandfather’s experiences with the outfit. A note to Joe Combest. We want to hear your Dad’s funny stories. Bill Mauldin made a career out of seeing the humorous side of the misery we went through. Your Dad along with many of us did the same thing. If you can’t get your Dad to come to a reunion, come your self. Tom Reber and other sons of our troopers show up and enjoy seeing their father’s old buddies. I’ll bet if you tell your Dad you are going he won’t be a straggler, left behind. We want all the stories. Boom Boom had a quote from Monty’s book about the enormous impact of anonymous men and groups whose deeds will never be known. Every man was important to the success of the Combat Team in achieving our missions. If we can help it, their stories will be told and they will not be forgotten. Soft Landings, Howard Hensleigh
_____________________________________
Subj: Re: Ted Lobar
Date: 8/25/2003 3:42:10 PM Eastern Daylight Time
From: RCooper663
To: Ben517, Bobx517@juno.com
Ben
Ted Lobar was a member of "D CO " from Taocca thru the end of hostilities. he past on some time last year.
Barbra & Ken Robertson is Ted Lobar's daughter she is requesting thru me that she be placed on the mail Call list ( bkrobe@adam.net)
Barbra & Ken Robertson
3602 Mill Creek Road
Quincy Il 62301
I sent this information to Bob Christy
Robert R Cooper
_________________________________
Subj: 517 Parachute Regiment
Date: 8/25/2003 3:43:57 PM Eastern Daylight Time
From: JBJB93
To: LYNZOOT, Ben517
Hello Lynda,
Somewhat rare to see someone from Company A on the email. My father in law (deceased) Ed Marconi was in Co A as well. He was from Brooklyn, NY and was wounded in Feb '45. Made the jump into France in Aug '44. Perhaps your grandfather can recall him. Later he was part of the occupation force in Germany with the 82nd Airborne.
Regards and all the best to you and your grandfather.
John Bramswig
PS - I have a suggestion you can tell him to write about - ANYTHING he can remember about WWII and the 517. We want to hear all the stories.
______________________________________________________________
Subj: Re: MAIL CALL NO. 529 517TH PRCT--August 22, 2003
Date: 8/25/2003 3:45:24 PM Eastern Daylight Time
From: JBJB93
Ben
How can I get to read "There is an intereting story in the Thunderbolt about Bert Duran ( A Co. )"?? I am interested in any A company stories.
John Bramswig
__________________________________________________________-
__-